ORU_Ax857.xml Guide to the Thelma Mills Papers 1925-1976 Mills (Thelma) papers Tanya Parlet and Kira B. Homo. Funding for production of this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives 2013
1299 University of Oregon Eugene, OR 97403-1299 spcarref@uoregon.edu http://libweb.uoregon.edu/speccoll
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2020-12-22. Finding aid written in English. Finding aid based on DACS (Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
1299 University of Oregon Eugene, OR 97403-1299 spcarref@uoregon.edu http://libweb.uoregon.edu/speccoll
Thelma Mills papers Mills, Thelma Ax 857 1.5 linear feet 1 container 1 record storage box 1925-1976 Thelma Mills worked in education, primarily with foreign students, in China, Taiwan and in the US; while in China (1925-1927) she observed the Chinese civil war. The collection contains diaries, correspondence, manuscripts, travel mementos, postcards, and photographs, 1925-1976. English . 1

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 Mills, Thelma China--Photographs Taiwan--Social life and customs--1945- China--Social life and customs--1912-1949 China--History--Warlord period, 1916-1928 Teachers--Taiwan--Taipei Teachers--China--Tianjin Women Christian educators--China--Tianjin Methodist Church--Missions--China--Tianjin English teachers--United States Americans--China--History--20th century Women teachers--Taiwan--Taipei Women teachers--China--Tianjin Missions, American--China Women Correspondence Photographs Diaries Postcards

Paper finding aid with additional information is available in Special Collections & University Archives.

Thelma Mills graduated from Willamette University in 1923. Mills began her career by teaching high school English in Raymond, Washington. From 1925 until the 1970's Mills worked with foreign students, particular Chinese students, in the US and abroad.

From 1925-1927 Mills taught English and choir at Methodist Missionary school in Tientsin, China. During that time she observed the Chinese civil war and traveled throughout China, taking many photographs.

From 1928-1930 Mills tutored Chinese students at International House in New York City. In 1930, she became a foreign student advisor at Whitman College and remained until 1950. From 1968 till 1971 Mills worked for the YWCA in Taipei, Taiwan.

The collection contains diaries, correspondence, manuscripts, travel mementos, postcards, and photographs.

The two diaries Mills kept during the period 1925-1927 when she was in China reveal only a few social and political observations. Most entries concern her friends, sister (who was the head of the Home Economics Department at Yenching University in Peking, China from 1922-1933), fellow teachers, school politics, travel, purchases, food, and social events. Included are entries regarding self-evaluations of her teaching, as well as student performance.

The diaries from Taiwan (1968-1971) reveal information about business matters, travel, social events, purchases, and reactions of the people in Taiwan. Observations of political events are also included. There are eleven total diaries for this period.

Correspondence is separated into incoming and outgoing sections.

Outgoing correspondence includes two notebooks entitled "War Letters" and contain information and impressions of the civil war in China. Photographs of Chinese soldiers are included. This section also includes letters to her family during 1925-1927.

Incoming correspondence is arranged alphabetically by organization title, last name, or first name of sender. There are also twelve incoming postcards.

Manuscripts consist of speeches entitled "China Today," and "I have known 2 China's, But There is a Third." Material includes reference material used, notes, photographs, articles, and maps. There is also a typed draft of a manuscript titled, Chinese New Year.

Miscellaneous material includes travel mementos, photographs, a list of addresses of "all American citizens in Tientsin, China in 1927," pages of expenses and receipts from China, ship passenger lists (1925; 1927), a school exercise notebook containing student essays, newspaper clippings, and postcards from Taiwan.

Also available are over 900 photographs, including photos from China.

Guide to the Thelma Mills Papers

See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.